What to Do With Your Patio

When you ask people what they think of their patios, some will say, “it’s a boring slab of concrete,” or “it’s way too hot to use,” or, “definitely not enough space back there.” Others think up endless ideas but go round and round never really being able to nail down what they envision much less how to get to the point of breaking ground. Your patio space should be an extension of the house – furnished and functional. More than anything, it should be a space that’s designed to fit your needs. This allows you to effortlessly get out and enjoy the outdoors.

Having a cover over your space really allows for more useable time throughout the year no matter the weather conditions and gives you the opportunity to truly make it feel as if it’s just another room in the home. Sometimes a good balance of covered as well as uncovered patio space is the answer – just ensure you’re investing in a vision that’s going to fit your family’s needs the best.

Having the ability and an adequate amount of counter space to grill out during the week or entertain on the weekends allowing you to prep and cook with ease can greatly enhance your outdoor experience. Putting in a side burner, extra storage, or even a fridge can all add to the usability and convenience of the space. You don’t have to go huge, super luxurious, or over the top with it – just build to suit your needs, and most importantly, make it functional for you.

With our economy continuing to boom and no slowing down in sight for the construction industry, creating privacy is and should be at the top of our lists.

Whether it be some taller landscape that creates a screen wall, simple curtain and rod set up that you can pull back-and-forth as needed, or some remote solar screens that offer UV as well as bug control, creating that element of privacy and really finishing the space off, can make all the difference when your home and trying to unplug.

Fireplaces, fountains, fire pits, and other features won’t only set your space apart from others but will also provide some function to your outdoor living. Whether it’s that focal point that a fireplace offers, a relaxing sound you get off of a water feature or fountain or being able to gather around the fire pit on a cool night. Adding features to your patio space not only creates interesting destinations but also brings people together enabling you to enjoy the space that much more.

Once you’ve gotten your patio footprint together, it’s always important to balance your hard space with a combination of turf and landscape areas. Much like the patio itself, landscaping could definitely be a do it yourself task, but sometimes design and installation are better left to be thought through by a local professional. We get calls and visit homes on a daily basis where people have put together a space only to find out it’s not large enough. It doesn’t offer the function or privacy they had envisioned, or better yet, they have given their ideas to a “patio builder” who doesn’t necessarily specialize in layout/design. Now, they need to manipulate what they’ve already paid for into something more usable.